In response to the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on local churches and the Conference, the Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA) has adopted budget cuts for the 2020 budget year, which ends Dec. 31, 2020. The cuts total $366,477. The specifics of these cuts can be seen here.
 
Rev. Ralph W. Howe, CCFA President, said that these cuts are intended to avoid payroll reductions, which the Conference hopes to cover under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). 
 
These cuts mean we will be unable to utilize funds as we had anticipated. Most boards and agencies will see their budgets highly reduced. Others, like BOM, have offered suggested reductions. 
 
The Cabinet has made a major commitment to reduce its overall budget by over $100,000. CCFA has cut the proposed new positions of real estate manager and revenue manager; the Trustees have cut property maintenance expenses.
 
According to Rev. Howe, when and if the Congress authorizes more funding for the PPP program, our Conference applications under this program, which have already been filed, should afford further savings for us from the Mission Share budget, however, this is unresolved at this writing.
 
Mission Share receipts are down by over $100,000 in March, which does not bode well for the Conference’s finances. The CCFA urges all churches that are able to remit their Mission Shares on a monthly basis, since others are unable to do so.
 
The CCFA also endorses and encourages folks to contribute to the Zarephath Emergency Relief Fund, so that churches, clergy and those dependent on our local churches for funds will have enough in these difficult circumstances.  This program is transparent, and has received initial funding from many key players in the life of the New England connection.